Studio Move~

Things around here have been a cluttered mess. My tiny studio was overflowing with supplies and projects and I realized that there are three of us who use that space, not just me. 

It's not really "My" studio, but rather "Ours". 

The girls always have a project or three in-progress and it was just not working out in our tiny front room. This room used to be a porch, which at some point was closed in and became a long, narrow room off the front of the living room.

Meanwhile, upstairs was a room that housed a tv and a gigantic red L shaped sectional couch, which was rarely used. The couch went to live with a friend (yay) and this room has been repurposed into a second studio! The room is at the top of our stairs and is not really a proper bedroom, since you pass through it to access the rest of the rooms upstairs. One side of the room has a sloped ceiling and a knee-wall, rendering it impossible to stand in about half of the space.  

It is at least three times the space that we had downstairs. 

The decision was made to move the art/painting/craft/journaling supplies upstairs and keep the sewing/knitting/fiber arts down in the smaller room.

Add in a massive purge of unused/un-needed items (that went straight to Goodwill!) and the energy of our home has changed dramatically! 

Here is a photo of the space right after the couch was removed. 

That is Rufus in the foreground, mourning the loss of his favorite piece of furniture.

This is The Precious, helping assemble some new Ikea shelves, which fit perfectly along the knee-wall.

 The queen, Ezmaralda, approves of the new space.

 Here are photos of the space after all the materials had been moved in.

Notice it is still clean? Not for long I am sure!

 There is still space for a third work table, but for now it is fine the way it is.

Grateful for the space and time to do this. 

Grateful for youthful teen energy to haul all that stuff UP the stairs! 

Tired Eve~

Inspired~ Muhu Island

I have to admit it.

I am an inspiration junkie.

I love the mornings when I take some time to browse the blogs in my reader and the designer sites that I admire so.

Yesterday brought me in touch with Muhu Island.

Muhu is an island off the coast of Estonia. With working windmills, sleepy fishing villages, stone and thatched homes and a vibrant textile heritage.  

Found on the deliously rich and colorful website of Gudrun Sjödén, one of my all time favorite designers.

Click here to see her Gudrun's World page, with her Muhu inspiration board and info about Muhu Island.

 Click here to view her Homeware Page, inspired by the designs of Muhu.

Click here to see the Muhu inspired winter clothing line.

drool

off to sketch... I have a ton of ideas now if I only had more hands...

Muhu Island Links~

Visitestonia.com

Muhu Info

Intro to Muhu Island

Learn from an elder~ The Amazings

The Amazings~ 

Learn from an elder.

Mastery and Wisdom, Brilliantly Shared.

"We're creating online craft classes with elders showing us how to make, 

mend, master- and live. Let's keep knowledge alive."

I LOVE THIS!!!

Purpose Film from The Amazings on Vimeo.

"Experience is the best teacher, which is why our crafty elders are the most amazing around."

http://www.theamazings.com

Life Happens~ recent photos

Life around here in September~

The pigs still line up, just like they did when they were tiny.

Ruby at nine weeks.

More gianormous Cosner tomatoes. 

Seeds saved for generations by Paul's family in WV.

Dizzy with dahlias.

Ruby, Stella, turkeys, hens and the mountain.

I am so in love with our farm, especially after three days away.

Gabriel's Snake Sweater~ 2013

ssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

Here is my latest commission, an adorable snake sweater for (almost 3 year old!) Gabriel.

Yarn is Cascade 128 superwash merino in Lichen.

Pattern is a one-of designed as I went along.

Knit from the bottom up.

With a cabled snake panel in the front.

(eyes are embroidered on with yarn)

Ribbed cuffs allow for growth spurts...

...and the gnomey hood? Is my favorite part.

I think he likes it.

Thanks to mom, Char for letting me take Gabriel's photos and posting them.

Make Your Own Puppy Warmer~

Our new puppy, Ruby, is just short of 8 weeks old and was in a kennel with her 12 brothers and sisters. Needless to say, crate training is hard the first week or so. She is cold and alone and honestly, I can only get up so many time a night and still be human.

Today I made this....

It can be microwaved in 30 second bursts until it is on the hot side of warm.

Ruby can snuggle up to it and it will warm her like her siblings did!

It is very simple to make., and be sure to use old materials...
I used an old towel, a t-shirt scrap from my rag bag and some velcro pieces left from an old project.

Instructions:
Cover
~ I took an old red towel from the rag bin. My towel piece measures 7"x 14", but the size can vary greatly depending on the size of towel scraps and puppy that you may have.

~ I sewed velcro to the one end, so the cover can be taken off and washed (a must with a puppy!). *Tip* sew the velcro on before assembling, it is much easier to do it first.

~ Sew the other three sides together, right sides facing in. (Remember to leave the velcro end open.) Turn.

Rice bag insert
~ Mine is made from a scrap of an old t-shirt, again from my rag bin. I measured it to be just short of the size of the cover, but left a bit extra on the end in case I need to snip it open to wash and/or change out the rice. This way I have extra fabric if it needs emptied and washed. After washing and drying the insert you just add more rice and sew the end shut again. I did not bother with velcro on the insert, it seemed to me that the rice may fall through the velcro or that it could easily be pulled open.

~ Sew all sides and leave a funnel sized opening on one end. No need to turn the insert right side out. Your puppy with probably not care. I know mine wouldn't.

~ Using a funnel, fill 2/3 full with dry rice.

~ Sew the opening closed and put the rice bag inside the cover.

Warm the entire thing in the microwave and put a puppy on top.

Welcome Ruby~

Yesterday we welomed a new family member to our home.

Meet Ruby.

(Ruby the dog.

 Ruby the hen has been stripped of her awesome name and renamed Rosalita. 

She was fine with it.)

There has been a huge hole in our family since our Xena passed on... and it has been felt the most by our Stella (our 3 yo German Shepherd). I have been looking online for the perfect puppy, and on Tues. I found her, just 20 minutes from our farm.

When we went to the breeder to pick a puppy, about 11 of them came scampering out, a constantly moving pile of furry cuteness.  I couldn't even get a photo, they were moving so fast. It was horrible. Nothing worse than a pile of puppies (note heavy sarcasm). 

Paul kept his wits about him and selected our girl.

Here she is meeting her big sister.

First a sniff.

 Then another.

A few moments to wrap her brain around it. What IS this thing?!

Ruby and Eve.

Sleeping in her 'area', a temporary structure that Paul built in the mudroom and she hates it.

There have been two sleepless nights so far, and hopefully they will start to get further and far between.

But we already love her so.

Welcome, sweet Ruby.